One source with intimate knowledge of the discussions tells me
negotiations are 80-85 percent complete. They've made such fast
progress, I'm told, it's catching many of the principals by surprise.
Some are now canceling vacations, believing an agreement will be reached
within a matter of days.

Obviously it's very early on in terms of things taking a turn for the better, but could this be a very good sign? We'd say so.

UPDATE: Kulp seems a bit more in the know on the happenings than I was. He writes in the comments, "
I wouldn't classify it as very early on in terms of things taking a turn
for the better at all. They've been meeting for weeks, and barring a
meltdown, all accounts have a deal being reached sometime in the next
month. Obviously all news should be regarded with tempered enthusiasm
until a deal is officially in place, but people in the know believe the
lockout will end soon, and the timing makes sense."